Another Opinion Among Many

This looks a tad on the tough side to choose.  I’ve just seen Delana do serious justice to a rather difficult to top “Roxanne” by The Police.  I loved her version.  I’m not so keen on her song, “Super Soul”, but she carries it off well.  Lucas showed his stuff well. He still has a way about him that’s quite captivating.  I just don’t know if its a Supernova thing.  Toby was a class act as usual (I missed the beginning).  What can we expect tomorrow? Magni performed a great rendition of a classic Deep Purple tune, but his original, at least in English, is very “top 40″.  I don’t know, man.  I think that its going to be Toby, if everyone goes with talent and the ability to mesh with the band.

It was interesting how well everyone sang together with Delana, don’t you think?

thanks to Rockstar - Supernova for the pics.  I promise to not try and make money off this post.

Back in the ’80s, there was a slick and sexy new show called Miami Vice.  It starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas.  It was popular, I think, partly because of Reagan’s renewed attempt at the US “War on Drugs“.  Having a TV show about the guys that take out the big bad drug lords was a popular choice and it worked.  Millions tuned in to watch Sonny and Rico drive their sexy new Ferrari Testarossa  around the Miami area and beat some bad guys.  They started a whole bad craze of men wearing a light but boxy blazer over a T-shirt, and sales of deck (or boat) shoes skyrocketed.  This was likely the biggest fashion shift for men in years (face it, we aren’t usually as stylish as women).

That was in the good ‘ole days, when the USSR was breaking up and nuclear bombs started to be distributed around the globe.  This is now.  This is the time when really bad nostalgia movies are made.  Now, I did like the Starski and Hutch movie, but it was well done.  Miami Vice was not.  There are a few opinions to the contrary, but I doubt if these people have enough brain cells for basic bodily function.  Its too bad, too, as I, along with many others who remember the TV series fondly were looking forward to seeing it.  One would think that with actors of the caliber that Jamie Foxx and Colin Farrrell are, this movie wouldn’t stand a chance of being bad.  Bit, it was.  “Why am I bashing this fine movie?”, you ask.  Its because this movie almost was good, but it fell short.  There were too many dark scenes, and I hate movies that never see light, unless they’re about creatures in a tunnel.  The subject material was presented in a much more gritty and realistic way than in the TV series.  I don’t think that this was a good thing.  I bet that many people brought their kids to see the show and were disappointed that it was so graphic.  But, the thing that clinched it for me, was how one had to pay attention so closely to keep up on what was going on.  If the plot wasn’t so dependant on detail, then the movie would have been ten times as entertaining.  If this movie were to be rated on a scale of 1 to 10, then I’d have to give it a 4.  Sorry, guys, but this movie didn’t even remotely feel like Miami Vice.

Looks like there may be hope for a major industry backlash against one of the enemies of freedom, the CRIA.  This CBC article has the story.  Its about a split from the CRIA over a commercial radio provision.  Its a step.  Perhaps the six companies that are opting out of their contract with the devil will open online stores with relaxex or nonexistent DRM and they’ll make more money than ever before from music downloads.

I got an email from my friend, Richard, who got it from someone, …you know. Anyhow, this letter had a link to a video in it. The author is unknown, but they’ve done a fair amount of work compiling a lot of stills with text and music. Props for the time it took.

Here’s the link: http://www.paete.org/movies/ParentWish.wmv

Go, watch, and bring a tissue. Anyone with ageing parents will need one.

I just read the latest Michael’s Minutes entitled Unfinished Business - Oboe and I’m impressed once again with the vision of the founder of MP3.com and the Linspire operating system. Michael has been in the “front row at the new technology room”* and has definitely been taking notes. I think that his idea of an online locker that syncs with your other online sources, keeping everything in one convenient indexed spot, where you can snag and play your favorite songs from any web-enabled device, is the way of the future. If this flies, then soon, all the music you’ve purchased will be available wherever you are and you can stream your playlists from any wireless hotspot to your misic player, without plugging it in every now and then to get more from your iTunes or Napster account (but Oboe will also sync with them too). This is almost exciting!

*That’s not a quote. I made it up.

So, I couldn’t stay awake for the finale of Rock Star INXS, but it seems that the Nova Scotia native takes the show. Good for him. We former bluenosers are the best, aren’t we? I’m going to have to find a repeat show so I can see the ending. I did see Mig lose out to J.D. and Marty. That man has some serious talent but I do understand the band’s decision. He was not really a fit for them. But, I don’t think that we have seen the last of him. He took the news of not being chosen with dignity and poise. Mig has class - a lot more than I’ve seen by any person, public or otherwise, in a while. Respect to you, Mig.
records…

So, now we just have to wait for the albums…

I was browsing the music at Purevolume, a site like the old mp3.com. There are lots of indie bands featured there (and who says indies not better? - the big money labels? of course they would, they’re not making moolah off these bands!). I found an artist that caused me to instantly groove! His name is Keaton Simons and he’s awesome! Go to his artist page on Pure Volume and check out the sounds for yourself. Hell, browse the whole site…you’ll be there a while. All genre’s are covered. This site is proof that there’s a ton of talent outside the big 5 that are even willing to let you download high quality mp3’s of their stuff. I know that I’ll be buying Keaton’s cd as soon as I can get some funds in my account. (BTW, most indie music is cheaper too. His album is $10US - about 1/2 price of the usual tripe in the CD store).

This is a good place, too, for another plug for Obsidian Reign again. If you like heavy stuff, you’ll like these guys too.